7/31/13 Commissioners forward health district levy to ballot

  • By Nick Sabo
  • July 31, 2013
  • 374
                        
SUMMARY: Commissioners say the public must decide on .75 mill levy The Holmes County Commissioners cleared the way to the Nov. 5 ballot for a levy benefitting the county’s health district. Commissioners Monday July 29 authorized the health district to place a .75 mill levy on the ballot, stating that voters will decide whether it is to pass or not. Commissioners Ray Eyler and Rob Ault said they both support the health district. Neither gave the levy itself an endorsement, reiterating the need for the community to have the final say. Ault said he is fearful that an underfunded health district will have to merge with another regional entity. “I support the health department,” Ault said. “I’m afraid it will go regional, we’ll lose the personal touch. Dr. McFadden and his staff have done a great job and I hope they can continue to do so.” Commissioner Joe Miller was absent at Monday’s commissioner meeting. The millage is the same as a levy the health district placed on the May 7 ballot. The levy was voted down. The health district is promoting the levy as a means to continue providing public health services in the wake of unfunded mandates and cuts in local government funding. In other business, commissioners approved raising fees for dog licenses in anticipation of a new law that allows licenses to be purchased for one year, three years, or life. Licenses for 2014 will be $15 for a one year license, up from $14. The three year license will be $45, and the permanent license $150. The fee schedule has been raised to help the dog warden and county auditor meet expenses associated with implementing and tracking the new licenses. The fees will also help make up a loss in revenues due to changes in kennel licenses, which will require some kennels to be licensed by the ODA. Construction on the Charm parking lot repaving is scheduled to begin within the next few weeks after commissioners awarded Melway Paving’s bid for the project of$123,448.10. Holmes County Planning Commission Director Arnold Oliver said the project, which is funded through the Community Development Block Grant, actually exceeded available funds. However, Charm merchants stepped in to make up the difference. Without their help, Arnold said, buggy parking may not have been part of the final project. “There were no funds to install the hitching rail,” Oliver said. “The buggy parking was bid as an alternate in the project, and the hope was the bids would come in low enough.” The merchants ponied up $1,253.25 for the rail. The parking lot, which covers approximately three quarters of an acre, will be resurfaced with asphalt. A retaining wall made up of railroad ties near state Route 557 will be removed, Oliver said, and the surface graded. Access points will be improved. The buggy parking will be located toward the rear of the lot.


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